Town Hall Answers

A few weeks ago my blog topic was Town Hall Question Time as suggested for the daily topic. I asked my readers to ask me a question and I would hopefully be able to answer them. Today I am sharing the questions and answers with you!

Tamara asks:

I have been trying to come up with new ideas for our elves on the shelf . So here’s my question: Do you guys have an Elf? I imagine you would have so much fun with it.

That’s one thing we have never had Tamara, an elf on the shelf! Maybe because every inch of every shelf has too much stuff on it already! But Lia has Owls on the shelf! LOL When she was born I gave her a little pink Ty owl and that started her collection! I’ve seen some awesome displays of where the elf is hiding though! Thanks for the question!

Kebba asks:

Martha, what is your favorite space in your house, and is it ideal now ? Or do you wish you would do certain things to it? Are you still thinking of moving back to NY? If so, how soon? Would you take Lia and Alex with you? Think of the many blog posts you could do around moving!

Good question Kebba! I’d have to say my favorite inside space is the kitchen. Our open floor plan is set up so the kitchen, eating area and family room all run together. I like that people can be in the family room chatting, playing games or watching TV and I can hang out in the kitchen with Lia and do our baking. It hasn’t been ideal until I organized the countertops and cupboards. I had to do that a few times to get everything in the right spot as to which things I use most often.

Just a few weeks ago I rearranged the countertops (AGAIN!) and moved the Ninja food processor next to the coffee pot. I moved the mixer to the other end next to the toaster oven so it has more counter space when using our baking ingredients and cookie sheets. Now I’m not saying it will stay this way but for now it’s the best plan to have everything at my fingertips! We will never move back to NY but eyeing the North Carolina mountains where we take our little sneak aways. Would love to find a tiny cabin so we can just go on a whim and not worry about making reservations or looking for a pet friendly hotel. There will always be a spot for Alex and Lia to come hang out too! Thanks for the great questions!

Jeanine asks:

What’s the best way to make green veggies taste good? So good, you almost don’t realize you’re eating veggies?

Great question Jeanine and thank you! I love all vegetables especially when fresh picked from our garden. My green veggies, broccoli, pepper, squash (both green and yellow), green beans and asparagus are best sauteed in avocado oil and a small amount of butter with seasoning to taste. I cook them quick so they keep the bright green color. Don’t over cook so they become mushy, I like them cooked but crunchy! If you like bacon, add crumbed bacon pieces while cooking and my favorite is to add dried cranberries and slivered almonds also. Oh and I sprinkle the green beans with parmesan cheese too. I like to be adventurous when cooking. If you try this method please let me know how you like them!

Roy states:

I thought Town Halls nowadays are where we shout and interrupt the speakers. Oh, wait. Those are the political ones.

Well there are times Roy when we’re in the kitchen cooking I shout out and tell others to move out of my way while Lia and I are working on our creations! LOL

Sheryl asks:

There is lots of creativity with the Martha Review . I was curious, do you do personal journaling as well as blogging?

Hi Sheryl, thanks for your question. I never got into personal journaling, not sure why not. I keep thinking maybe I’ll start but I never have. My journaling consists of jotting down tidbits and notes of scrap paper. LOL

Amrita asks:

I want to know how you managed your business for so many years.

This will be interesting to reply to Amrita. I started a small alteration business when I was 18 years old, right after Rich and I got married. It grow into dressmaking, men’s suits, prom and bridal gowns and then slipcovers and draperies. After working in all aspects of sewing it came time to focus on the one I loved the most, window treatments and bed and bath ensembles.

This is the very first business card I had! That was the only advertising other than word of mouth. From 1967 until 1994 when we moved to South Carolina, we had our drapery workroom in our basement and my “showroom” was in a spare bedroom. When we moved south to care for my ailing mom, we packed everything up, sold our house and moved down blind folded. We didn’t know anything about the area as far as how many other decorators were there, was it a good business venture to open an interior decorating shop or would we be able to make it. This was the first time we had an actually store front and while I was excited I was also nervous, hoping and dreaming everything would work.

Back to your question… when I first started my sewing business, I never expect it to grow like it did. I kept hand written records of sales, purchases of supplies and payments. Throughout the years before 1994 all my record keeping was done in a ledger. My husband worked at General Electric in the early years and since our two daughters were young, they were always with me in the workroom and learning how to sew. I didn’t have any problem between handling work or family, if I went to a customers home, the girls went with me and the customers love them!

Once we moved south everything feel right into place! As we were setting up shop, even before we were open, a couple stopped in and asked if we had a 10′ drapery rod. It just so happened that was one of the first bunch of things that was shipped down. We installed their drapery rod in the cement ceiling of a high rise condo. This was a big change from installing rods in a small home made of wood but it worked and the customer was happy. We went on to be good friends and decorated their church alter in North Carolina.

Another lady stopped in and asked when we would be open for business. She was the owner of a large condo rental agency so we were busy from before we officially opened for the next 57 years.

I never change the way I did my record keeping, never computerized it, just old fashion paper and pencil. The biggest “modern” day change we made was when we started taking credit cards and had to learn how to work a credit card terminal! But I did have a sketch program where I could design treatments and show the client what it might look like. This was the only time I did anything on the computer for the business.

When our business first started our girls were young and needed care while working, they helped along side of me in our basement workroom. When we moved south my mom had Alzheimer’s and needed care so it was like the same but with a 74 year old “child”. Mom would hang out at our shop and I’d give her simple tasks to do so she would think she was helping.

Also by now two of our grandchildren (Alexandra and Zac) were fixtures in our shop and they helped like their mom did years before. Then fast forever to another generation and our great granddaughter Lia took over in the workroom. We always managed without giving any thought of “can we do this” or “will it work”. From starting the business, learning about record keeping, expanding, moving and making it all work has been an awesome feeling.

Wow, writing this reply has taken me down memory lane Amrita and it sure has been a wonderful ride!

Thank you!

Thank you all for your questions and I hope you enjoy reading the answers!